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Subjects on offer will include plumbing, plastering and business retail as well as traditional courses like maths, English and science.

Students will also be able to re-sit GCSE exams at the new facility, which will be called Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form.

The police station closed down in 2012 (Image: Dave Cook)

Harris said in a statement that local applicants will be given priority for places.

The statement also said the new sixth form will cater for students who are "new to the country and have not yet had the opportunity to obtain GCSE grades that allow them to progress to the next phase of education", as well as for those who choose not to sit A-Levels.

The sixth form will additionally benefit those who are "vulnerable or require additional pastoral care and progress management", the statement added.

Students at Harris Academy Purley (Image: Dave Cook)

Andrew Barr, who has been selected to be the principal at the new facility, said: "The new Professional Skills Sixth Form offers local students an alternative route to continue their studies and progress their future careers.

"As well as excellent teaching in small class sizes, we will encourage and support our students to give them the confidence they need to compete successfully for jobs in their chosen vocation or go on to University.

“In light of the high levels of new investment in Croydon town centre, giving students the opportunity to gain qualifications in sectors such as business retail and construction will enable them to make a real difference to their own lives and the local community.”